In addition, 52% of respondents said that they would quit if their jobs prevented them from enjoying life, indicating that employees are prioritising their life experiences over work.
Randstad released the results of the latest 2022 Workmonitor survey in Singapore. The bi-annual survey highlights the workforce’s latest sentiments and perceptions of the local job market.
In a post-pandemic future with hybrid work becoming the norm, a large proportion of the workforce has had the chance to re-evaluated their career and life priorities. Some employees would focus on career advancement, others would look for well-paid employment. There is also a group of workers who wish to find a sense of connection with other like-minded individuals in the workplace.
Finding happiness and meaning in one’s career isn’t a new concept, but more and more Singaporeans have been cognizant of this issue since COVID-19 pandemic wrought changes upon their daily lives.
creating a work environment that meets the needs of different generations
Many workers are now looking for employers that have a positive workplace culture and can provide greater well-being support as well as clear communication, relevant training programmes and a strong management team.
Employers need to offer a holistic and comprehensive work environment to enhance the employee experience, as an attractive salary itself may not be as effective in retaining employee motivation and productivity in the long run.
46% of respondents aged between 45 and 54 said that they are willing to quit their job if it hindered them from enjoying their life, slightly lower than the younger generations.
Mature workers may have a more established career and higher financial responsibilities, which makes them less likely to switch employers as they would rather not risk their job and income security.
On the other hand, Generation Z workers yearn for career progression and opportunities to learn and upskill, which drives them to find employers that have a structure and culture that best match their career growth goals.
94% of respondents maintained that post-pandemic work-life balance is important
77% of respondents in the study said that flexibility in working location is important. However, only 52% reported that their employers provided them remote working options.
Likewise, 4 in 5 of our survey respondents value flexible working hours, but only 60% of them reported being given this autonomy by their employers.
However, as employers expect their workers to return to the office throughout the week, these work flexibilities will slowly disappear. This means that they have less time to spend with their families and friends over the weekend as they have to return to doing household chores and running errands.
These changes can be disruptive to the workforce as they have already accustomed to working from home over the past two years. When asked to return to work, parents would have to hire nannies or enroll their children to schools closer to their workplace for convenience. Employees with a global remit who have to stay up for calls would have to sacrifice their sleep to wake up to make it in time for work at the office.
Therefore, Singaporeans who value work flexibility to decide when and where they want to work may start seeking other employment opportunities with other companies.
Company leaders that want to retain their employees and be able to attract talent should consider offering flexible and remote work arrangements after the pandemic to meet the changing talent expectations that are exacerbated by the pandemic.
In addition to offering flexible work, companies can also reconsider the purpose of the office as a place for people to come together to connect with one another, rather than be resigned to closed-off work cubicles. Working at their own desks would feel similar to working from home, as they would not have spontaneous opportunities to build relationships with their colleagues in the workplace.
44% of respondents in singapore wouldn’t mind earning a lower salary if they felt that their job contributed to society, 10% higher than global average
43% of respondents in the study said that they would not accept a job with a business that does not align with their values on social and environmental issues. The same percentage reported the same sentiment if the company was not making a proactive effort to improve their diversity and equity.
With the increasing aspirations and heightened social awareness, employers need to be mindful of how they can shape cultural policies to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace to create a more meaningful work purpose for their employees. Workers who get the opportunity to drive real and positive changes would feel more fulfilled and satisfied in their roles, and are more connected with the larger purpose of the organisation.
They can offer opportunities for employees to drive or participate in these conversations through employee resource groups or in their daily work as part of the company’s business agenda. This can be as big-picture as the company’s tangible actions to reverse climate change and promote gender equality - or as micro-focused as providing flexibility to their employees.
gain deeper insights into the singapore workforce
The latest 2022 Randstad Workmonitor study was conducted between 21 February 2022 and 13 March 2022 with 1,000 locally-based respondents who are employed and aged between 18 and 67 years old in Singapore.
An organisation’s ability to attract and retain highly-skilled talent depends on their agility to meet changing talent expectations. Randstad conducts workforce research regularly to keep pace with the changes, complemented by the in-depth insights from our local recruitment specialists across key industry functions in Singapore like banking and financial services, accounting and finance, life sciences, property development, manufacturing and supply chain, technology and more.
Get in touch with us and we’ll connect you with a specialist for the latest unique market insights or to take a brief for your hiring needs.